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9 Ways to Make Your Bathroom Look More Expensive

The bathroom is one of the most expensive rooms in the house to renovate, second only to kitchens. If installing marble tile, acquiring a lust-worthy clawfoot tub, and splurging on a rain shower is not in the cards, there are still numerous ways you can give your bathroom a luxurious look without breaking the bank. Live in a rental? You, too, can go luxe for less. Scroll below for our nine favorite affordable ideas for transforming your bathroom from basic to bombshell.

Nearly every high-end bathroom we’ve stepped into is equipped with seating of some sort, be it a simple garden stool, a tufted ottoman, or an ornately carved armchair. Not only does the accent look luxurious, it also feels grand—why do your pedicure on the toilet seat when you could have your very own throne?

We often see hurricane jars filled cotton balls in the most well-appointed of bathrooms. The traditional look isn’t for everyone, and some of us like our toiletries more concealed. But one of the most tried-and-true tricks for giving your space an elevated aesthetic is to contain your odds and ends. Store your soap in a dish rather than on the sink, stash your toothbrush in a beautiful tumbler, or keep your Q-tips in a darling box; doing so will instantly neaten your space.

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A dirty or tired bath mat is a sure fire way to make your bathroom look unkempt, and if you have one, there’s no question yours should be swiftly replaced. But the most luxurious bathrooms have taken this a step further and replaced terry cloth mats with Turkish and Persian rugs. The tufted wool rugs are soft underfoot and the perfect substitute for a bath mat. Better yet, with beautiful patterns and colors that only get better as they fade, they can add so much personality and sophistication to your bathroom.

It’s a sad, sad thing how many of us settle for contractor-grade mirrors from the bathroom aisle at The Home Depot. By choosing a mirror with a little more personality, and getting clever with storage rather than resorting to the standard medicine cabinet, you’ll elevate your space to something far from basic. If you’re on a budget, browse flea markets and discount shops like HomeGoods for affordable mirrors, or try DIY-ing one.

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A monogram is a staple of practically every luxe bathroom we’ve seen. Monogrammed bath towels are a no-brainer, but you can make your mark on hand-towels in a powder room, a tissue box, or even the back of an upholstered chair. Mark & Graham offers monogramming on practically everything under the sun.

Know that expression, “A place for everything, and everything in its place”? It’s one thing that great designers are always successful at. A bathroom can easily look messy and spartan if there’s clutter or no place to hang your towels and robes (or worse: if linens are tossed on the floor). So hang a small hand towel ring right by the sink, where it’s needed; install a hook for your bathrobe; and make sure you have a rod for your bath towels. These simple additions may be virtually unnoticeable to the average guest, but they can make a drastic impact on the polish of the room.

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We’ve been seeing brass and copper everywhere lately, and especially in the most luxurious of bathrooms. The fact that it’s not chrome—the most basic of bathroom finishes—instantly gives it a leg up on the average WC. You don’t need to replace all of your faucets (trust us, hardware can add up); a new soap dish, a magnifying mirror, or a little jar might just do the trick.

As one man put it, “Wallpaper can be an overwhelming and costly mistake.” It’s not as cheap as a new soap dish, but relative to paying a contractor to install a new shower and tiles, it’s a bargain. If your space just needs some pizzazz, or it’ll be a while before you can tackle a full renovation, spending a couple hundred bucks on a double-roll or two can be transformative.

Overhead lighting is so often overlooked, someone should write a song about it. Perhaps because it’s usually there when we move into a new home, be a rental or not, we don’t get around to updating it. Regardless, there a really handsome lighting options available for as little as $30. You can even DIY this pretty bubble chandelier featured below for as little as $75.